UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Jennifer Glick, Arnold S. and Bette G. Hoffman Professor in Sociology at Penn State, has been appointed as director of the Population Research Institute (PRI), part of the Social Science Research Institute.
She takes over for interim director Michelle Frisco, currently the associate director of PRI and professor of sociology and demography. Previously, Jennifer Van Hook, Roy C. Buck Professor of Sociology & Demography, served as director of PRI for six years.
Glick received her doctorate in sociology from the University of Texas at Austin before moving onto Arizona State University, where she served as director for the Center for Population Dynamics and was also a professor of sociology.
For Glick, her new appointment allows her to come full circle, as she is an alumnus of Penn State. She received her bachelor of arts degree in sociology with a minor in human development and family studies and was a member of the Penn State Blue Band.
“I’m very excited to come home to Penn State and join PRI, which has always excelled at high impact population science, and I’m looking forward to expanding upon the excellent work of previous directors,” Glick said.
Glick’s research focuses on migration and family processes. She brings with her an international comparative project focusing on migration, funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
“I’ve been involved in and led many interdisciplinary projects throughout my career, and continue to be interested in integrating sociology into other research areas. Specifically, my research focuses how migration influences family formation and alters educational and labor force trajectories,” Glick explained. “I am also interested in the importance of migration for intergenerational relationships and living arrangements.”
As for the future, Glick plans to contribute to and support PRI’s high-impact population research at the local, national and international levels. “Its an exciting part of our mission and something that we really excel at,” she said.
PRI was established over four decades ago at Penn State and is a multidisciplinary center that supports innovative population research. PRI promotes a dynamic, talented and collaborative research community with over 80 faculty researchers and is funded by the National Institutes of Health.